188 ADVENTURES IN SOUTH AFRICA. 



er much hesitation, and walking once or twice round the 

 water, they came in and commenced drinking. I lay 

 close to the edge of the fountain in a little hollow. The 

 elephants came in to drink on the north side of a run 

 which led away from the fountain, and I lay on the 

 south side of it. Suddenly the finest bull of the three 

 walked boldly through the run and came straight for- 

 ward to where I lay. If I had remained still he would 

 have walked upon me; but when he came within six 

 or eight yards I gave a loud cough, upon which he tossed 

 his head aloft and gave me a broadside, exposing his 

 left side. I then gave him a shot from the bio: two- 

 grooved rifle, and he dashed off with his two comrades 

 in immense consternation, holding for the Limpopo. 



The next day one of my steeds died of " tsetse." He 

 had been bitten under the mountain range lying to the 

 south of this fountain. The head and body of the poor 

 animal swelled up in a most distressing manner before 

 he died. His eyes were so swollen that he could not 

 see, and in darkness he neighed for his comratles wdio 

 stood feedinor beside him. 



